Stellantis and CATL launch the country's largest battery factory in Aragon

The Government of Aragon approved on Wednesday the construction of the main building of the battery gigafactory that Stellantis and CATL will build in Figueruelas. The decision, adopted in Zaragoza, will allow the immediate start of foundation and structural work on the largest building in the complex. The project, valued at 4.100 billion euros, is part of the Aragon General Interest Plan. Authorities expect this milestone to mark the beginning of a key industrial center for the future of electric vehicles in Spain.

Construction begins on the key building of the gigafactory

Aragon has taken a decisive step towards the construction of the Stellantis and CATL gigafactory in Figueruelas upon approving the construction of the main building, a structure of Sqm 151.141 intended for the manufacture of cells. The partial authorization of the Plan of General Interest of Aragon (PIGA) will allow the foundation and structure works to begin immediately, without the need to obtain an integrated environmental authorization, a condition that significantly accelerates the timeline.

The initial investment amounts to 42,4 millones de eurosThis investment falls within the framework of Project Toro, the joint initiative of Stellantis and the Chinese company CATL. The Vice President of the Aragonese Government, Mar Vaquero, emphasized theextraordinary speedRegarding the administrative process: the application was submitted on October 15th and received approval in just one month. The works will have a completion period of nine months, an unusual speed for a project of this magnitude.

The symbolic groundbreaking ceremony will take place on November 26thThis coincides almost exactly with the first anniversary of the official announcement of the gigafactory. Authorities expect a massive influx of Chinese workers by 2026, when construction reaches its peak. Vaquero described the date as a turning point for consolidating the industrial transformation that the regional government wants to promote.

A strategic bet of 4.100 billion

The Toro Project envisions a total investment of 4.100 millones de euros to build a gigafactory capable of producing one million batteries annuallyThe facilities will extend over Sqm 367.000 distributed in 89 hectares in the municipalities of Figueruelas and Pedrola. This scale positions the project as one of the largest industrial developments in Spain and a key point for the electrification of the European vehicle fleet.

The initiative comes at a delicate time: the European automotive industry is going through a crisis that could leave 70.000 layoffs This year. Vaquero admitted that “Environmental policy has not kept pace with industrial policy“,” noting that the sector is demanding more flexibility in the electrification deadlines to avoid a production collapse. The gigafactory, however, is presented as a strategic counterweight that will attract investment, consolidate suppliers, and guarantee the future of Spanish assembly plants.

With this partial approval, Aragon sends a message of stability and administrative efficiency to Stellantis, owner of the historic Opel plant in Figueruelas, whose long-term viability depends largely on guaranteeing the supply of batteries within the region itself. For CATL, a world leader in cell production, the project is a key element in expanding its European footprint and strengthening its role in the continent's energy transition.

An unprecedented impact on employment

The gigafactory will generate more than 3.000 direct jobs y 8.500 indirectAccording to PIGA estimates, this makes it one of the largest sources of industrial employment projected in Spain this decade. The project will produce batteries of lithium iron phosphate (LFP), a more affordable and durable technology than nickel-manganese-cobalt, and fundamental to reducing the final cost of electric vehicles.

Production will begin in 2026, with a progressive increase until reaching the full performance in 2028During the construction phase, a significant volume of employment is expected in civil works, engineering, heavy machinery, and international logistics. Once operational, the factory will foster a network of local suppliers and support services that could profoundly transform the economy of the Ebro Valley.

Aragon already has a robust automotive sector, which employs more than 35.000 people between direct and indirect jobs. The Stellantis and CATL facility could strengthen the community's position as industrial and logistics hub of southern Europe, complementing the growth of the Cantabrian-Mediterranean corridor and attracting investments in electric mobility, energy storage and R&D.

A new industrial map for Aragon

The regional government argues that the project will not only create jobs but will also transform the region's industrial structure towards high value-added sectors. The availability of locally produced batteries will facilitate the electrification of the Figueruelas plant, one of the Stellantis group's most competitive in Europe, and will pave the way for new electrical assembly projects.

Authorities also highlight Aragon's logistics infrastructure, with direct road and rail connections and proximity to strategic ports such as Barcelona and Bilbao. These conditions, along with competitive land costs and the possibility of creating a supplier ecosystem around the gigafactory, are key factors in attracting more international investment.

Furthermore, the LFP technology manufactured in Figueruelas could boost the arrival of mid-range and low-end electric models, a key segment for making electric vehicles accessible to a larger part of the population. Stellantis has insisted that reducing the cost of batteries is essential to meet electric vehicle sales targets in Europe in the coming years.